Data Study Finds Link Between Acid Reflux Meds and Heart Attack Risk

June 11, 2015

A new data study suggests that common antacid drugs, known as proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), can increase an adult patient's risk of heart attack.

Proton pump inhibitors include such well-known brands such as AstraZeneca's blockbuster Nexium and over-the-counter versions such as Pfizer's OTC Nexium and Procter & Gamble's OTC Prilosec

Researchers at Houston Methodist and Stanford University examined 16 million clinical documents representing 2.9 million patients, finding that patients who had taken a proton pump inhibitor had an increased risk of heart attack (by 16% to 21%) compared with those who had not taken the drugs.

Researchers examined databases for patients who were prescribed PPIs or H2 blockers, looking for reports of myocardial infarction. Patients taking H2 blockers did not display any increased risk for heart attack.

Read the Forbes article